Overview (4)

Mini Bio (1)

American supporting player specializing in tough guys. Of Serbian extraction, he was born in Nevada in 1917. As a young man, he boxed in amateur bouts and had early training in theatre at the Pasadena Playhouse. He joined the Air Corps during World War II and was assigned to the troupe performing the Moss Hart Broadway tribute to the Corps, Winged Victory, acting under his first chosen stage name, Barry Mitchell. He appeared in the film version of the show, and after the war became active in radio drama as well as theatre. John Huston spotted him in a play and cast him as a bad guy in The Asphalt Jungle (1950), under the new sobriquet of Brad Dexter. Throughout the Fifties, he continued to play hard cases of a usually villainous stripe, in both crime dramas and Westerns. His most famous role came as one of title characters in The Magnificent Seven (1960), albeit his fame was considerably eclipsed by most of the other members of that band: Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Horst Buchholz, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, and James Coburn. He continued acting into the 1970s, then made a shift into producing.

Spouse (3)

Trivia (9)

On May 10, 1964, Dexter saved both Frank Sinatra's life and the life of Ruth Koch (wife of Producer Howard W. Koch), during production of the World War II film, None But the Brave (1965), in Kaui, Hawaii. Sinatra and Koch were swimming at a beach when they were swept out to sea by the outgoing tide and nearly drowned in high billowing waves. Co-star Dexter swam out and rescued them together but were not able to return to shore for nearly 45 minutes. In the waves, Sinatra reportedly became separated and murmured "Its all over...please take care of my kids...I'm going to die." Towards the end, both Sinatra and Koch had fallen unconscious for several minutes before two surfers arrived to help Dexter take them to shore. Dexter was later awarded a Red Cross medal for his bravery. When Dexter, who was just two years younger than Sinatra, later advised Sinatra (born 1915) not to marry the then-20 year old Mia Farrow (born 1945), who was 30 years Sinatra's junior, Sinatra ended their friendship.

Originally changed his name to Barry Mitchell. Changed it to Brad Dexter at the request of John Huston.

Son of Serbian immigrants.

Spoke Serbian.

Met Karl Malden in the Army Air Force during World War II. Both performed in "Winged Victory," a Broadway film touring unit.

Is best known for his role as Harry Luck, one of the title characters of The Magnificent Seven (1960). However, he is the one of the seven whom no one can ever remember.